This homemade honey and mustard dressing is sensational! With a fine balance of flavors, a mix that's simple to whip together and so many ways to get the best out of this dressing, you'll fall head over heels with this recipe.
So, read on to learn how to make this delicious salad dressing!
Why you'll love this honey mustard dressing recipe
- There are only a few simple ingredients.
- This delicious dressing is easy to make.
- You can serve it with all kinds of dishes, from salads and sandwiches to burgers and with roasted vegetables.
Equipment needed
There are a couple of key kitchen items you'll need before you get started.
- Medium mixing bowl – an essential item for mixing up your homemade honey mustard dressing
- Balloon whisk – a classic balloon whisk is the best way to get the right texture
- Salad dressing shaker – get yourself an authentic container to use this and other homemade salad dressings
How to make honey mustard dressing
- You need Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Place the first four ingredients in a bowl.
- Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking to emulsify the dressing.
- Season to taste.
- Pour into a sealable container and keep in the fridge until ready to use. Shake before drizzling. Enjoy!
Top Tip
Drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil in slowly to achieve the desired consistency.
How to serve honey mustard salad dressing
As a dipping sauce
Honey mustard sauce is perfect as a dip for chicken legs, chicken thighs, pretzel sticks, french fries, crudités or any finger food.
As a burger sauce
The fabulous mix of flavors in this healthy honey mustard dressing makes it perfect as a sauce for your favorite burger or hot dog. You could even use it as a sandwich dressing.
As a salad dressing
Mix this as a homemade salad dressing recipe into your favorite salad.
Popular substitutions
Mustard
- Substitute Dijon mustard with wholegrain mustard for a more textured dressing.
- Use yellow mustard for a milder flavor.
Honey
- Replace honey with maple syrup or agave nectar for a different sweetness profile.
- Use brown sugar or white sugar dissolved in a bit of warm water as an alternative sweetener.
Apple Cider Vinegar
- Substitute with white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice for a different acidic profile.
- Use balsamic vinegar for a richer, slightly sweeter flavor.
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Substitute with avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or cold-pressed rapeseed oil for a neutral-tasting dressing.
- Use walnut oil or sesame oil for a nutty twist.
Variations to this recipe
Herbed Honey Mustard Dressing
- Add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or tarragon.
- Incorporate 1 teaspoon of dried herbs like thyme or oregano.
Spicy Honey Mustard Dressing
- Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Mix in 1 teaspoon of sriracha or hot sauce for extra heat.
Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing
- Blend in ¼ cup of Greek yogurt or mayonnaise for a creamier consistency.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of sour cream for a tangy, creamy texture.
Citrus Honey Mustard Dressing
- Replace apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of freshly squeezed orange or lemon juice.
- Add 1 tablespoon of orange zest or lemon zest for a citrusy burst.
Garlic Honey Mustard Dressing
- Add 1-2 cloves of minced garlic or ½ teaspoon of garlic powder for a savory flavor.
- Incorporate roasted garlic for a milder, sweeter garlic taste.
What is honey mustard dressing made of?
This homemade honey mustard salad dressing contains equal parts of four simple ingredients:
Dijon mustard
Quality counts. Go for a good Dijon mustard, providing that essential heat and earthy flavor.
Honey
The sweetness of the honey balances perfectly with the other ingredients.
Apple cider vinegar
The essential fruity tang from apple cider vinegar offsets the mustard's heat and the honey's sweetness.
Extra virgin olive oil
This adds a subtle peppery flavor to the mix while helping to achieve the perfect consistency for your honey mustard vinaigrette.
Is honey mustard dressing high in sugar?
It's relatively high in naturally occurring sugars as it contains honey. However, homemade honey mustard dressing typically contains less sugar than the store bought version.
Is honey mustard dressing made of mayonnaise?
No, there's no mayonnaise in honey mustard salad dressing.
How do you store honey mustard dressing?
- Container:
- Store the honey mustard dressing in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Refrigeration:
- Keep the container in the refrigerator. The dressing should be stored at a consistent, cold temperature to maintain its freshness.
- Shelf Life:
- The honey mustard dressing will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For best flavor and quality, use it within this time frame.
- Shaking Before Use:
- Before each use, shake the container well to re-emulsify the dressing, as it may separate over time.
- Labeling:
- Label the container with the date you made the dressing to keep track of its freshness and ensure you use it within the recommended time.
More sublime salad dressing recipes
Take your salads to a whole new level with these sensational salad dressing recipes!
- Mediterranean salad dressing – this light and delicious salad dressing is so easy to make. It contains just oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard and some fresh Mediterranean herbs and is perfect with a Greek or Italian salad
- Vegan ranch dressing – a creamy light dressing that's tailor made for a summer salad but equally delicious when used as a as a sandwich dressing, a sauce or a delicious dipping sauce
- Sugar free salad dressing – fabulously healthy and light, yet with no compromise on taste, this sauce is simple to prepare and ideal for a summer barbecue in the garden or even with baked potatoes.
Other Salads You Will Enjoy
📖 Recipe
Honey & Mustard Salad Dressing Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup, 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Whip up a tangy-sweet honey & mustard salad dressing with this easy recipe, perfect for adding zest to your salads and grilled veggies.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar until smooth.
- Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking to emulsify the dressing.
- Add fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Transfer the dressing to a sealed container and refrigerate until ready to use. Shake well before serving. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad Dressing
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 101
- Sugar: 8.7 g
- Sodium: 195.8 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Renil M. George
A very beautiful dressing. Love the way you placed the egg. Thank you for making me drooling.
Michelle
Hey, Judith. There's nothing stopping you from adding poppy seeds to the dressing. So go on, give it a try!
Judith Jensen
Has anyone added poppyseeds to this recipe? If so, how many? My favorite honey-mustard dressing is from Red Robin and it has poppyseeds in it. I can buy some at Red Robin but homemade would probably be better.
Richard
This is the best 5 minutes Honey and Mustard salad dressing I have ever tasted. I have tried it tonight on a green salad, my next shot will be to use it on a hot chicken salad. I can almost see it! Yummy.
Michelle
Thanks for the positive feedback, Richard! This Honey and Mustard dressing will work with almost anything. My favourite way of using it with pan fried salmon on top of buttered egg noodles. Just sprinkle the sauce over or stir it all in!
Lesley Cherry
I love your website. I was looking for inspiration and found it here!
Lacey @ dishfolio
Yum! That dressing looks so good! Great photos, too. We'd love for you to share your work at dishfolio.com.
Adele
I'm totally with you. I think Homer Simpson spoke for all of us when he said "You don't make friends with salad". Will have to give this dressing a try.
Jessica
Lovely way to bring some brightness to the daily salad!
Beauty & the Feast
Nothing sets off a salad like a good homemade dressing. Looks absolutely fantastic. Beautiful photos!
Ellie
I prefer American dressing, but it's hard to get and the manufactured dressings just taste eww.
But I'll definitely give yours a try. 🙂 ... When I'm eating salad next time, that is. Because I'm not keen on it either and I actually prefer if there is less lettuce in it and more other stuff, like mushrooms, corn, cucumber, bell pepper and so on. ^^
Marisa
Ooooh, loving the idea of this in a potato salad. Not a big fan of the mayo heavy versions (with the exception of homemade mayo that is).